Richard Tuwangye (born 16 October 1980) is a Ugandan actor, comedian, and musician. He is a founding member of Fun Factory Uganda.

Richard Tuwangye
Born (1980-10-16) 16 October 1980 (age 43)
Masaka, Uganda
NationalityUgandan
Alma materMakerere University
(BA Drama)
Occupation(s)Entertainer, actor, comedian, MC
Years active2004–present
Known forEntertainment-comedy at Fun Factory Uganda and Master of Ceremonies
Spouse
Sharon Atwiine Kagarura
(m. 2016)
Children2

Early life and education edit

Richard Tuwangye was born 16 October 1980 to Enock Tuwangye and Hope Tuwangye in Masaka, Uganda.[1] In 1987 he began his primary school in Molly and Paul Primary School. It was here that he started acting as early as Primary One, in a school drama.[2] In his Primary Five, he changed school to Bwara Primary School where he completed his Primary Leaving Examinations in 1993. He later joined St. Henry's College Kitovu where he sat for Uganda Certificate of Education in 1997. He then joined Kako Senior Secondary School[1] for his A-level where he sat his Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education. From here, he was admitted to Makerere University at the School of Performing Arts where he graduated in Bachelor of Arts in Drama in 2004.

Career edit

Music edit

In 2004 Richard, Meddie and Isaac formed the VIP Modern Dance Troupe which he headed.

In 2005, wrote and sang Can't Live Without you produced by Fenon Records.[3] The VIP Modern Dance Troupe afterwards turned into a music group and later on released Tugendeyo. After a third song, the group disbanded.[4] These would be the only songs he would release for a long time because he was not ready for the hustle that came with promoting a song.

In 2015 he released another single, "What Should I do?".[3]

Host edit

He was co-Mc together with Gloria Kasujja during the launch of NewFem contraceptive by Uganda Health Marketing Group (UHMG) in March 2009[5]

In May 2010, emceed at the 2010 Buzz Teeniez Awards ceremony.[6]

In May 2018, Richard hosted Live Sipping Night at Racer's Bar, Bukoto.[7] In October, he emceed at Kenneth Mugabi's maiden concert, "Strings of my Soul"[8]

Stand-up edit

In 2013, Richard performed as part of the acts celebrating Pablo's nine years in the comedy industry.[9]

On 12 July 2019, he hosted his first one-man comedy show dubbed Laugh Conquers All.[1][10][11]

Acting edit

In 2002, Richard acted several plays at the National Theatre including The Virgin, The Journeys and A Jewel in Every Name.[12]

He joined Theatre Factory in October 2003.

In 2005, he played the role of Daudi in a television series called Hand in Hand, together with Jacqueline Kizza and Veronica Namanda.[13]

He acted in The Last King of Scotland as an assistant of a politician in 2006.[citation needed] later in the same year, he joined Rock Point radio while at Theatre Factory.[14] In this radio drama, he portrayed the character of Deo, a feat which won him a Voice Actor's Award.[12] He left the radio drama in 2007.

In 2007, Richard, together with Anne Kansiime, Veronica Namanda, Bugingo Hannington and Gerald Rutaro acted in a short movie, What Happened in Room 13[15].

In January 2010, together with 13 other members of Theatre Factory, Richard left and formed Fun Factory Uganda[16][17] where he is the Communications Director. In Fun Factory's weekly sketches of Comedicine, his most recurring roles being The arrogant Munyankole, Junior and Phobia the drunkard. He acted in the movie Speak Out which premiered at Theatre La Bonita on 21 January 2010.[18]

In 2011, Richard was part of the cast that formed The Hostel (TV series)[19] where he acted as Twine, one of the lead characters.[20] He left the set in 2012 after disagreement with the management on the professional fees being paid to the actors.[citation needed]

In July 2012, he was part of the cast that acted Silent Voices, The Play which was based on interviews with victims of the Northern Uganda Conflict.[21][22]

Richard acted as Dez in Queen of Katwe in 2016, alongside David Oyelowo and Lupita Nyong'o.[23] In the same year, he acted as Dj Kadanke in Rain[24][25]

Richard was among the nine seasoned actors that were signed by the Development Channel to promote activities like African Child Poverty Alleviator Program in June 2018.[26]

Personal life edit

Richard is the second born of five siblings[1] born to Enock and Hope Tuwaangye. After she introduced him to her parents officially on 1 August 2015, Richard married Sharon Atwiine Kagarura[27] on Martyr's Day 3 June 2016.[28] They have two children, Kakama and Amanya.[29]

Filmography edit

Film edit

Year Title Role Citations
2006 The Last King of Scotland
2006 They Stopped Eating Fruits Sebiku [12]
2008 Speak Out Boda boda man mobilizing people to stand against corruption. [12]
What Happened in Room 13 [12]
2016 Queen of Katwe Dez [12]
Silent Voices Husband to a troubled wife [12]
2017 Rain Dj Kadanke

Television edit

Year Title Role Notes TV Network
2005 Hand in Hand Daudi An unemployed hustler full of mischief
2011 The Hostel Twine
2010 - 2015 U-turn Various roles NTV
2015 - 2017 Various roles NBS
2018–present Mizigo Express Clinton A Nigerian tenant who turns out to be a conman DStv (Pearl Magic)

Theatre edit

Year Title Role Citation
2002 The Virgin[12] Bogolio, a houseboy [12]
2002 The Journeys [12]
2002 A Jewel in Every Name An orphaned son of a woman killed by the war in Northern Uganda [12]
2003 The Adams [12]
2006 The Nasty Good Stories [12]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d Mulema, Najib (2 July 2019). "INTERVIEW: 'Fans pushed me to sleep with a female colleague' – funnyman Tuwangye opens up ahead of solo show". Watchdog Uganda. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  2. ^ Kibisi, Sarah (12 January 2008). "Geraldine meets UBCTV presenter". Daily Monitor. Archived from the original on 2019-10-27. Retrieved 2019-10-27.
  3. ^ a b Isaac (29 September 2015). "Fun Factory Comedian Richard Tuwangye Returns To Pursue His Music Career". Chano8. Archived from the original on 28 October 2019. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  4. ^ Ssejjombwe, Isaac (29 July 2017). "Music was never their thing – Sqoop – Its deep". Sqoop. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  5. ^ Namaganda, Agnes (21 March 2009). "It's about freeing your mind". Daily Monitor. Archived from the original on 2019-10-27. Retrieved 2019-10-27.
  6. ^ Batte, Edgar (11 May 2010). "Bebe, Cindy rule Buzz Awards". Daily Monitor. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  7. ^ Shantel, Denzel (28 May 2018). "Racers Bar Bukoto". Showbizuganda. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  8. ^ Nalubwama, Bayan (22 October 2018). "Kenneth Mugabi's performance could make you fall in love!". The Sunrise. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  9. ^ Batte, Edgar R (2 December 2013). "Pablo marks nine years standing up". Daily Monitor. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  10. ^ Ssempijja, Reagan (16 July 2019). "Tuwangye stages maiden stand-up comedy show". newvision.co.ug. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  11. ^ Ampurire, Paul (28 June 2019). "Richard Tuwangye Hit a Home Run with His Maiden Stand-up Special". Online news from Uganda and the East African region - SoftPower News. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Cultures-Uganda | Richard Tuwangye (T1J/Twine)". uganda.spla.pro. Retrieved 2019-10-27.
  13. ^ Frison, Aretha (10 November 2005). "Hand in Hand". UgPulse. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  14. ^ "Who is your favourite actor in The Hostel?". newvision.co.ug. 27 October 2011. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  15. ^ Tumusiime, David (21 April 2012). "'What Happened in Room 13' a hard truth". Daily Monitor. Retrieved 2020-01-02.
  16. ^ Ruva, Roy (30 January 2015). "Comedy Outfit Fun Factory Warm Up for "Best of Zizinga" in Style". Chano8. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  17. ^ Nuwagaba, Edwin (5 January 2010). "Theatre Factory splits, new group; Fun Factory formed". Daily Monitor. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  18. ^ Ssegawa, Mike (16 January 2010). "MOVIE REVIEW: Speak Out". Daily Monitor. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  19. ^ Tendo, Steven (26 February 2011). "The Hostel: pioneers new television era". Daily Monitor. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  20. ^ "Who is your favourite actor in The Hostel?". newvision.co.ug. 24 June 2011. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  21. ^ Abangirah, Caesar (9 July 2012). "Letting the silent voices be heard". Daily Monitor. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  22. ^ "Silent Voices Uganda | Silent Voices English Production 2012". silentvoicesuganda. Retrieved 2019-10-27.
  23. ^ Queen of Katwe (2016) - IMDb, retrieved 2019-10-27
  24. ^ Rain (2016) - IMDb, retrieved 2019-10-27
  25. ^ Kaggwa, Andrew (15 November 2017). "Rain dominates Pearl International Film Festival awards". The Observer - Uganda. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  26. ^ Mbabazi, Charity (24 June 2019). "Development Channel Signs Nine Actors". TowerPostNews. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  27. ^ "Comedian Richard Tuwangye weds fiancée Sharon- Photos". BigEye.UG. 4 June 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  28. ^ "Uganda Online - Uganda News, Entertainment news and Celebrity Gossip". ugandaonline.net. 4 June 2016. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  29. ^ Sqoop (1 April 2016). "Comedian Tuwangye to wed fiancee in June – Sqoop – Its deep". Sqoop. Retrieved 27 October 2019.